CPU Temperature While Idle

CPU Temperature Under Load

GPU Core Clock Rate

GPU Effective Memory Clock Rate

GPU Temperature While Idle

GPU Temperature Under Load

Description

I decided to build my first PC after a lifetime of fun with PC gaming. I was raised on such classics as Fallout 2, Creatures, Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds, and (obviously) Minesweeper.

Being a pathologically frugal human being, I winced at the total I rang up on this build. I went into /r/buildapcsales with the best of intentions. Instead of buying the parts I originally wanted, I found impossibly good deals on parts better than I originally wanted. C'est la vie.

I was originally planning on using a 960 Evo but I couldn't justify the cost after all the other expensive parts I decided I "needed" for this machine. After all, my games aren't going to load any faster. A Crucial MX300 in Momentum Cache seems to work just fine.

CPU Cooler

However, Asetek (who supplies the H115i) has pretty crap firmware and the H115i has nowhere near as good firmware as the H110i (supplied by CoolIt). You'll get exactly the same cooling results with both, but you'll have much better LED lighting control, fan control, etc. if you get the H110i.

Memory

With XMP turned on for this RAM, my BIOS finishes loading in 6.3 seconds. This memory is a great all-round performer. I use Momentum Cache on my SSD (which uses system memory) and it works flawlessly. It seated easily into my motherboard.

Storage

Video Card

Aside from the fan profile, I don't need to tweak this card at all for it to run great. I will run an OC on this thing when it finally starts to lose ground against the next-gen cards. I set up a slightly more aggressive fan profile than the default just to be safe. Afterwards, this card never saw temperatures above 78 degrees C during a heavily modded, ENB-added Fallout 4 session.

Case

This case is phenomenal. Cabling is so dang easy with this thing. The rubber ports to send cables behind your motherboard are a pleasure to work with. The drive bays are brilliantly placed. The design is perfect for minimalists.

Power Supply

With the SuperNOVA P2 750W, you know you've bought a premium product as soon as you've opened the box. The braided black cables match the case I bought perfectly. The protective pouches for the PSU and cables are a really nice touch. This thing has enough cabling for practically every imaginable build scenario.

I don't think one detail has been left out of this PSU. It's extraordinarily silent. It's extraordinarily efficient. It looks great. Anyone from midrange to prosumers should consider taking the plunge and spending a little extra on such a vital component for your PC.

Wireless Network Adapter

Note: For mid-tower and larger builds, you will need to unscrew the attached PCI cover plate and screw on the larger one. Regardless, this is a great product and it recognized my wireless network immediately upon Windows 10 installation, even without the antenna.

Comments
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nice black and white build! everything's looking pretty solid. Question about the mobo, I have a Z-170AR and was thinking of switching to your mobo, are there any big differences between the two? Which one would you recommend?

There honestly doesn't seem to be many differences between them. You get two more USB ports and DVI with the Krait. You get a displayport connector with the Z-170AR.

I know the form factor of the Krait Gaming 3x is a bit wonky -- it isn't a full ATX but is almost a full ATX. It doesn't use the 3 rightmost motherboard standoff screws. People who make a big deal out of that are just being silly, though. It's easy to plug in everything with this board.

interesting, I got a closer look at the board and I see what you're talking about. Do you think that'll cause it to bend more in the future? Do the standoff screws dig into the back of the rightmost side?

alright man thanks for the reply! I'll see whether or not I'll do the switch I got a few days left to return. Also did you ever have problems with the lan disconnecting? My last msi motherboard kept disconnecting me from the internet.

not a single issue so far. i read somewhere that a BIOS update really helped certain MSI motherboards that were having odd lan issues. of course, that should never be happening in the first place because lan/ethernet is such a basic component.

MSI had a pretty bad reputation a few years ago. now they seem much improved (even with their collection of silly apps).

Yeah, I can see why a lot of people would not even bother with the front USB ports. That truly is a big cable to deal with. The nice thing about the Krait 3x is that you can plug in the case's USB 3.0 plug into either the front or side of the board. I hated plugging it into the front, as it seemed to get in the way of EVERYTHING, but the side worked out fine.

Most monitors manage USB very well, so you're not missing out on anything. My OCD just turns on when ports aren't functioning. XD